Safety front jaw for ski bindings or fastenings

ABSTRACT

1,012,836. Ski-bindings. H. MARKER. Aug 7, 1962 [Aug 12, 1961: May 30, 1962], No. 30148/62. Heading A6D. A movable member carrying a front jaw for ski bindings is arranged to be deflectable in a lateral direction about a vertical pin when under excessive torque, the said member having at least one inclined surface spring-biased towards a cooperating inclined surface whereby the said member is urged back to its normal position. In the first embodiment, Figs. 1 and 4,the movable member 4 carrying the jaw 16 has a double inclined under surface in the form of a shallow V and this is pressed against a base member 2 of co-operatin configuration by a spring 5 whose tension is adjustable by means of a nut 6. Thus when the member 4 is angularly displaced it will return, when freed of obstruction, to its normal piston, in which position a ball catch 9, 10, 11 locks it. The jaw 16 is similarly secured to the member 4 so that when the member 4 is deflected clockwise, as viewed from above, the jaw is deflected counterclockwise, and vice versa. A second embodiment is described with reference to Fig. 3 (not shown) in which a single inclined surface is employed. The adjustment of tension of springs 5, 21 may be by multisurfaced cams 29.

H. MARKER Aug. 17, 1965 SAFETY FRONT JAW FOR SKI BINDINGS OR FASTENINGS Filed Aug. 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 r. 5 weMw M n e K m 1 IN N a 6 M G A H Y 9 2 5 m F 4 G I F 7, 1965 H. MARKER 3,201,140

SAFETY FRONT JAW FOR SKI BINDINGS OR FASTENINGS Filed Aug. 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.?

INVEN] OR Hdnnes Marker ATTORNEYS' United States Patent 3,201,140 SAFETY FRQNT JAW FOR SKI BTNDINGS 0R FASTENHNGS Hannes Marker, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, as-

signor to Dr. he. Georg Von @pel, Frankfurt am Main, Germany Filed Aug. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 215,121 Claims priority, appliication Germany, Aug. 12, 1961,

M 38,966; May 30, 1962, M 53,058

16 Claims. (Cl. 280-1135) This invention relates to a safety front jaw for ski bindings or fastenings which is adapted to be pivoted in a lateral direction when subjected to an excessively great turning moment or torque, the said front jaw comprising at least one swingable member adapted to be pivoted about a pivot pin which is rigidly secured to the associated ski and which extends vertically upwardly from the upper side of the ski, the said jaw preferably also comprising at least one sole hold-down member adapted to engage the upper side of the front edge of the ski boot sole, the

said hold-down member being pivotally attached to said swingable member by means of a pivot pin extending vertically upwardly from the upper side of the ski, there being provided spring means adapted to retain the swingable member and/ or the sole hold-down member in their normal positions and to return them into the said normal position after they have been deflected therefrom. There have already been proposed several constructions of safety jaws of the type indicated, including both constructions in which the sole hold-down member is pivotable in relation to theswingable member and constructions in which the sole hold-down member is not pivotable in relation to the swingable member. It has also been known, for the purpose of restoring the said parts to their central position, to provide either vertically disposed leaf springs secured to the ski and having curved free ends engaging the forward portion of the safety jaw, or spring-loaded balls or plungers adapted to co-act with detent depressions 0r flats provided on the pivot pin or on the sole holddown member, the helical spring used in the latter case acting in a direction parallel to the upper side of the ski and being accommodated in a suitable bore of the swingable member. Only in the case of relatively slight deflections of the swingable member from its normal position will the said vertically disposed leaf spring function automatically to restore the swingable member to its central position. Another known construction, while being adapted to restore the swingable member also in the case of relatively large deflections, includes horizontally disposed helical springs the provision of which results in a largeoverall length of the mechanism. Moreover, in the case of this latter construction, the front jaw is particularly weakly retained in its normal poistion, because in this position the force of the spring opposing the deflection of the jaw is a minimum, this force being progressively increased as the angle of deflection increases.

The present invention is concerned with solving the problem of providing a safety front jaw of the aforeindicated type in which provisions are made for the swingable member to be automatically returned to its normal position and wherein the aforementioned drawbacks of known constructions are avoided. The means for automatically restoring the swingable member and, where desired, the sole hold-down member, affords an advantage in that the front jaw will always, also after the skier has suffered a fall, tend to assume its position of use, it being,

dihhl lh Patented Aug. 17, 19555 "ice shocks will be absorbed elastically, and the front jaw will force the boot back into its central position, the result being that the skier is prevented from falling or that at least the necessity of re-attaching the boot to the binding is avoided.

In a safety front jaw of the aforeindicated type, the drawbacks of the known bindings are avoided, according to the invention, by providing the swingable member and/ or the sole hold-down member with at least one inclined plane surface which extends at an angle to the respective pivotal axis, the said inclined surface being spring-biased against an oppositely disposed surface extending at the same angle in relation to the said pivotal axis and held against rotation about the pivot pin, the said pair of inclined surfaces being relatively movable in an axial direction against the biasing force of the spring. This arrangement renders it possible, even in the case of extremely large deflections of the swingable member and/ or the sole hold-down member, to ensure an automatic restoration of the said members into their original position Without any necessity arising for the overall length of the jaw to be increased. By an empirical determination of the optimum angle of inclination between the said pair of inclined surfaces and the pivotal axis it is possible to provide for an optimum resistance to be overcome by the toe portion of the ski boot at its maximum angle of defiection; it should be noted in this connection that neither the use of a simple detent mechanism alone nor the use of a spring-loaded plunger or the like has thus far resulted in a similarly advantageous mode of operation.

According to another feature of the invention there may be provided two surfaces subtending an obtuse angle and thus forming a roof-like ridge adapted to co-operate with a shallow V-shaped groove the walls of which s-ubtend the same obtuse angle, the line of intersection of the two inclined surfaces ofeach pair intersecting the axis of the pivot pin. The inclined surfaces tending to retain the .swingable member and/ or the sole hold-down member in their central positions may be formed on the member carrying the bearing or pivot pin, and the port-ion of this pin which extends above the swingable member and the sole hold-down member, respectively, may be surrounded by a spring device whose ends respectively engage the upper side of the swinga-ble member or the sole hold-down member and a prefer-ably axially adjustable abutment provided on the upper end of the pivot pin. Thesaid abutment may be constituted by a knurled nut in threaded engagement with the pivot pin or by a cam lever attached to the pivot pin in such a manner as to be held against axial displacement, the said cam lever being provided with a plurality of surfaces differently spaced from its pivotal axis and adapted to co-operate with the upper end of the said spring device. There may be provided on the swingable member and/ or the sole hold-down member a spring-loaded ball detent device which, with the springloaded jaw in its normal position, engages in a recess provided in the base plate and/or the swinga-ble member, respectively. This arrangement ensures an excellent stability of the front jaw in its central position, the result being that the jaw will not be displaced. laterally if the skier should make an inadequate attempt to engage the ski boot with the binding. The fact that the spring force applied to the detent ball can be selectively adjusted makes it possible accurately to pro-determine the torque limit up to which the jaw cannot be swung aside; on the other hand, however, after this torque limit has been exceeded, and after the jaw has been deflected, the automatic restoration of the jaw into its central position is still ensured. The spring means used in the various sphing devices of the front jaw of the invention may be constituted by helical springs or rubber springs or stacks of plate springs.

According to still another feature of the invention, the said plane inclined surfaces may be replaced by curved surfaces whose shape has been empirically determined to provide for the desired pattern of forces. This arrangement makes it possible to predetermine in any desired manner the pattern followed by the opposing torque developed by the binding upon the jaw being deflected. Ac-

cording to a further feature of the invention, one of the co-operating plane inclined surfaces or curved surfaces of each pair may be replaced by an element, preferably a pin, a ball or a roller, which is accommodated within one of the two relatively swingable members, and which is axially displaceable against an adjustable spring force. In this case, the manufacturing tolerances may be more generous than in the case of the aforementioned accurately matching inclined planes or curved surfaces.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, illustrating several preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sole hold-down member associated with the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan View of the base plate of the embodiment of PEG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a spring force adjusting device of different construction from the one used in the first and second embodiments;

FIG. 6 shows the arrangement of FIG. 5 as viewed from the left side thereof;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal View, partially in section, of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a partial longitudinal cross section of a further embodiment of the invention.

As will be seen in FIG. 1, the ski 1 has secured thereto by means of at least two screws (not shown) a base plate 2 which has riveted thereto a pivot pin rotatably carrying the swingable member or cam plate a. The swingable member is movable axially of pivot pin 3 against the opposing force of a helical spring 5 whose degree of compression can be adjusted by means of a knurled nut 6 co-operating with the externally threaded upper portion er pivot pin 3. As shown in PEG. 1, the upper side of base plate 2 has formed therein two oppositely inwardly inclined plane surfaces subtending a highly obtuse angle and intersecting along a line '7 (FTG. 4) extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the ski and intersecting the axis of pivot pin 3. Thus, the upper side of base plate 2 is formed in the manner of an extremely shallow V groove. The bottom of the swingable member 4 is formed with a circular recess 8 receiving a complementary circular portion of the base plate, which portion is provided, within the outline of recess 8, with two oppositely outwardly inclined plane surfaces of roofor ridge-like configuration and accurately matching with the inclined surfaces of base plate 2. The forwardmost portion of swingable member 4 has formed therein a bore 9 receiving a detent ball 11 acted upon by a spring 1&3 whose degree of compression can be adjusted with the aid of a knurledhead screw 12. With the front jaw in its central position, the detent ball 11 engages in a recess 13 formed in the upper side of a flange-like extension of base plate 2. As shown in FIG. 4, two holes 14 are formed in the flangelike extension, permitting the base plate to be secured to the ski by means of suitable screws Riveted to the rear portion of swingable member i is 21 second pivot pin 15 supporting a sole hold-down member 16 which is rotatable and movable axially of pivot pin 15, the hold-down member carrying two angularly disposed fingers 1'7 adapted to engage the edge of the front portion of the ski boot sole, there being provided upper lugs 18 engaging the upper side of the said portion of the sole. Formed in the under side of sole hold-down member 16 is a circular recess 20 receiving an upwardly extending circular projection 19 of swingable member 4; Within the area of recess 29, both the upper side of swingable member 4 and the under side of sole hold-down member 16 are provided with co-operating pairs of mutually engaging oppositely inclined plane surfaces in manner similar to the configuration described with regard to base plate 2 and the swingable member 4 in the preceding paragraph. The sole hold-down member 16 is biased towards the inclined surfaces of swingable member 4- by a spring 21 whose upper end abuts a knurled nut 22 co-operating with the externally threaded upper portion of the second pivot pin 15.

Formed in the forwardmost portion of sole hold-down member 16 is a bore 23 receiving a detent ball 24 acted upon by a spring 26 whose degree of compression can be adjusted by means of a knurled-head screw 25.

As the ski boot applies an excessively great torque to the angular fingers 17 of sole hold-down member 16, the detent balls 11 and 24 will both be forced out of their associated recesses, so that the roof-like lower surfaces of swingable member 4 and of the sole hold-down member 16 will be rotated in relation to V-groove formations on the upper sides of base plate 2 and the swingable member 4, the result being that the swingable member 4 as well as the sole hold-down member 16 will be raised along their respective pivot pins 3 and 15 against the progressively increasing resistance of the springs 5 and 21. During this action, the swingable member 4 will be swung about its pivot pin 3 in the direction of action of the torque or torsional force, while the sole hold-down member 16 will be swung about its pivot pin 15 in an opposite direction, the result being that it is not necessary for the ski boot to be rearwardly displaced against the resistance offered by the tensioning cable which is not shown in the drawings. Since the springs 5 and 21 tend to return the swingable member 4 and the sole holddown member 16 into their lowermost positions within the V-grooves, the two members will be restored to their central positions as soon as the torsional force applied by the ski boot is reduced below the combined resistance of springs 5 and 21. Upon the original position being again reached by all parts, the detent balls 11 and 24 will engage in their recesses, the ski binding then being again in its position of use.

While the embodiment of FIG. 1 provides for the swingable member 4 and the sole h0ld-down member 16 to be returned into their normal positions within a range of deflection not exceeding the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 will cause the said members to be automatically returned within a range of deflection of The cooperating surfaces of base plate 2 and of swingable member 4, and of the latter as well as of the sole hold-down member 16 are in this case formed as continuous inclined. planes. Except for this modification, the embodiment of FIG. 3 is identical with that of FIG. 1; it is for this reason that identical parts of the two embodiments have been designated by identical reference numerals.

The knurled nuts 6 and 22 serving to adjust the degree of compression of the springs 5 and 21, respectively, may

3t 31 and 32 which are ditferently spaced from the pivotal axis of the lever, the said surfaces being adapted to be selectively brought into contact with a disc-like spring retainer 33, this arrangement permitting any of three different degrees of compression of spring 5, to be easily and quickly selected. To facilitate its 'manipulation, the cam lever .29 is provided with serrations 34 on back against the resistance of the spring.

central position, the said element engages with the recess its arcuate rear surface. It will be understood that the springs 5, 1%, 21 and 26 may be replaced by rubber springs or stacks of plate springs.

The invention may be further embodied in a variety of different structures shown in the FIGS. 7 and 8. For example, the inclined plane surfaces shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 may be replaced by co-operating curved cam surfaces whose shape may be based on an impirically established law ensuring the development of an optimum pattern of forces during a fall of the skier. Furthermore, one of the co-operating inclined planes or cam surfaces of each pair, i.e. one of the surfaces of one of the two relatively swingable members, may be replaced by an axially displaceable element, such as a ball or a pin or a roller, this element being acted upon by an adjustable spring. FIG. 7 illustrates a third embodiment wherein the base plate 36 is mounted on a ski 35. The base plate 36 is substantially circular in plan view and comprises, on its upper surface, two intersecting, inclined planar surfaces. The line of intersection of the planes is the lowest point on the upper surface of the base plates. An intermediate member 37, similar to member 4 in FIG. 1, is rotatably mounted on the fixed pivot pin 38. The major differences between thi and the previously described embodiments are the intermediate member 37 does not have an inclined surface on the side adjacent the base piate but has a rotatable follower ball 39 mounted therein. The rotatable ball 39 is spring biased downwardly by a spring iii, the force of which is adjusted by the spring adjusting means 41. The ball 39 normally rests in the detent formed by the intersection of the inclined surfaces of the base plate 3d. The rear portion of the intermediate member 37 contains a pair of upwardly directed inclined surfaces similar to those of the base plate 36. Since this portion of the drawing is shown in section, the far side incline 44 only is shown. The boot engaging member 42 is mounted above the pair of inclined planes on a fixed pivot pin 43. A rotatable follower ball 45 is mounted on the boot engaging member so as to be spring biased by spring 46 and adjustable means 47 towards the detent portion of the inclined surfaces. The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 operates in a manner somewhat similar to that of the first two embodiments in that a certain amount of torque is required to initially move the ball from the detent and a lesser amount of torque is required for further deflection of the members.

A fourth embodiment, shown in FIG. 8, shows a for lower means replacing the upper inclined surface of two adjacent surfaces. In this embodiment, the base plate 52 carries a detent 57 on the inclined surface 55 and the intermediate member 57 carries a rotatable follower ball 56. Pivot pin 54 differs from the pivot pins of the first two embodiments in that this pin is fixed and does not carry a biasing means. The adjustment is associated directly with the rotatable follower ball 1% and comprises a mounting cap 53, spring 53, and adjusting screw The follower element is adapted, during a relative deflection of the members, to slide on the inclined plane or on the cam surface of the co-operating member and to be forced When in its formed in the inclined plane or cam surface, it thus being possible to dispense with the use of an additional ball detent device.

Again, the safety front jaw of the invention may be of much simpler construction as compared to the embodiments shown in the drawings. For example, the sole holddown member 16 may be omitted if the rear surface of the swingable member 4 is of convex shape in order to prevent the ski boot from being displaced to the rear during the lateral swinging action. In this case, however, a considerable weakening of the connection between the ski boot and the binding will have to be tolerated as compared to the twin-link type embodiments shown in the drawings. The front jaw of the invention shown is adjustable in an optimum mamier, since the resistance to be overcome at the location of the two pivot pins 3 and 15 during lateral deflection can be independently adjusted, and since the detent balls 11 and 24 can also be adjusted in a different manner. The overall height of the front jaw of the invention can be kept extremely low, and the entire structure is of maximum compactness so as to produce very little drag during skiing. Besides that, in view of its low height and compact construction, the front jaw of the invention exhibits a particularly great strength and durability when subjected to external forces such as may occur during a fall when the skis, after having been released from the ski boots, are thrown against solid objects.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety jaw for ski bindings or fastenings capable of being deflected in a lateral direction upon the application thereto of an excessively large torque, comprising at least one swingable member mounted for rotation about a pivot pin rigidly secured to the ski and extending vertically upwardly in relation to the upper side of the ski, and preferably comprising at least one sole hold-down member capable of engaging the upper edge of the toe portion of a ski boot sole, said sole hold-down member being mounted for rotation in relation to said swingable member about a second pivot pin rigidly secured to said swingable member and extending at right angles to the upper side of the ski, there being provided spring means tending to retain the swingable member and the sole hold-down member in their normal positions and to return them into their normal positions after any lateral deflection therefrom, wherein at least one of the said swingable member and said sole hold-down member have formed thereon at least one plane surface which is inclined in relation to the axis of the associated pivot pin, said plane surface being spring-biased towards a normal position with a cooperation surface on the member supporting the associated pivot pin which is inclined at the same angle in relation to the axis of the respective pivot pin and which is non-rotatable relative to the pivot pin, said inclined surfaces being relatively movable in an axial direction against the biasing force of the spring.

2. A safety jaw according to claim 1 wherein said inclined surface is between only said swingable member and said stationary member.

3. A safety jaw according to claim 1 wherein said inclined surface is between only said hold-down member and said swingable member.

4. The safety jaw of claim 1, wherein said inclined surfaces subtend an obtuse angle and are oppositely i11- clined to constitute a roof-like formation co-operating with V-grooves whose w alls subtend the same obtuse angle, the lines of intersect-ion of said inclined surfaces intersecting the axis of the associated pivot pin.

5. The safety jaw of claim 1, wherein said inclined sunfaces tending to retain the swingable member in its central position are formed on the member respectively carrying the first-mentioned and said second pivot pin, and wherein the portion of the pivot pin upwardly extending beyond the swingable member and the sole holddown member, respectively, is surno'unded. by a spring device, one end of the spring device abutting a supporting element provided at the upper end or" the respective pivot pin, said supporting element being preferably ad ju-stable in an axial direction.

6. The safety jaw of claim 5, wherein said supporting element is constituted by a knurled nut co-operating with an externally threaded portion of the associated pivot pm.

'7. The safety jaw of claim 5, wherein the said supporting element is constituted by a cam lever oarnied by its associated pivot pin in an axially fixed position, said cam lever having formed thereon a plurality of engaging surfaces disposed at different distances from the pivotal axis of the cam lever and each adapted to co-operate with the upper end of the said spring device.

The safety jaw of claim ll, wherein the swingable member is provided with a spring-loaded ball detent device adapted, with the front jaw in its normal position, to engage in a recess respectively provided in the base plate of the binding or in the swin gable member.

9. The safety jaw of claim 1, wherein one of the cooperating relatively axially movable inclined surface is replaced by a rotatable element, the said element being supported by one of the relatively swingable members and being adapted to be axially displaced against the resistance of an adjustable spring.

iii. A safety jaw for a ski boot comprising a stationary member to be attached to a ski, a pivot pin secured to said member and extending at right angles thereto, an adjustable spring mounted on said pivot pin, a hold-down member capable of engaging the ski boot, said hold-down member being mounted for rotation about said pin, the side of said stationary member adjacent said hold-down member defining at least two inclined surfaces with a detent therebetween, said holddown member defining a bore extending parallel to said pivot pin, ball means partially within the end of the bore nearest the stationary member adapted to engage said inclined surfaces, a threaded rod mounted in the other end of the bore, spring means mounted between said threaded rod and said ball means and biasing said ball means to a repose position in said detent and against said inclined surfaces when said hold-down member is rotated, whereby a predetermined amount of torque is required to initially deflect said hold-down member from its normal position to a preselected angular position and a lesser amount is required to further deflect it, said hold-down member tending to return to said normal position after any deflection.

111. A safety jaw for a ski boot comprising a stationary member to be attached to a ski, a pivot pin secured to said member and extending at right angles thereto, an intermediate member mounted for rotation about said pin, a second pivot pin secured to said intermediate memher and extending at right angles thereto, a hold-down member capable of engaging the ski boot, said holddown member being mounted for rotation about said second pivot pin, the side of said stationary member adjacent said intermediate member and the side of said intermediate member adjacent said hold-down member, each defining an inclined surface, said intermediate memb r and said hold-down member each defining a bore extending parallel to said pivot pins, ball means partially within the end of the bore of said intermediate member nearest said stationary member and adapted to engage said inclined surface of said stationary member, ball means partially within the end of the bore of said hold-down member nearest said intermediate member and adapted to engage said inclined surface of said intermediate member, a threaded rod mounted in the outer ends of each of said bores, spring means mounted between each of said rods and ball means and biasing each of said ball means to a respos-e position and against its respective inclined surface when said hold-down memher is rotated, whereby a predetermined amount of torque is required to initially deflect said hold-down member from its normal position to a preselected angular position and a lesser amount is required to further deflect it, said hold-down member tending to return to said normal position after any deflection.

12. A safety jaw for a ski boot comprising a stationary member to be attached to a ski, a pivot pin secured to said member and extending at right angles thereto, an intermediate member mounted for rotation about said pin, a second pivot pin secured to said intermediate memher and extending at right angles thereto, a hold-down member capable of engaging the ski boot, said hold down member being mounted for rotation about said second pivot pin, one of the adjacent sides of said stationary member and said intermediate member and one of the adjacent sides of said intermediate member and said hold-down member defining inclined surfaces, follower means mounted in the other of said adjacent sides of said stationary member and said intermediate member and the other of said adjacent sides of said intermediate member and said hold-down member, each follower means adapted to engage and follow its respective inclined surfaces when said intermediate member and said hold-down member rotates, resilient means biasing each of said follower means to a repose position and biasing each of said follower means against its respective inclined surface when said intermediate member and said holddown member are rotated, whereby said rotation beyond a preselected angular deflection is achived only upon the application to said intermediate member and said holddown member of angular forces exceeding a predetermined amount.

13. A safety jaw for a ski boot comprising a stationary member to be attached to a ski, a hold-down member capable of engaging a ski boot pivotally mounted on said stationary member for rotation about a pivot pin, one of the adjacent sides of said stationary member and said hold-down member defining inclined surfaces with a detent recess therebetween, follower means carried by the other said side, said follower means engaging and following said inclined surface when said hold-down member rotates, resilient means biasing said follower means to a repose position, wherein said follower means rests within said detent recess, said resilient means further biasing said follower means against said inclined surfaces when said hold-down member is rotated whereby said rotation beyond a preselected angular deflection is achieved only upon the application to said hold-down member of forces exceeding a predetermined amount.

14. A safety jaw for a ski boot according to claim 13 wherein said hold-down member comprises a swingable member and a boot engaging member pivotally mounted on said swingable member for rotation about a second pivot pin.

15. A safety jaw for a ski boot according to claim 14 wherein said adjacent sides are those sides disposed between said swingable member and said boot engaging member.

. 16. A safety jaw for a ski boot according to claim 14 wherein said adjacent sides are those sides disposed between said swingable member and said boot engaging member and between said hold-down member and said stationary member.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,922,955 8/33 Jensen 280-1135 2,793,869 5/57 Braun 280-1135 2,858,137 10/58 Marker 280-11.35 2,858,138 10/58 DH'bOiS 28011.35 2,867,446 1/59 Rehacek 280 11.35 2,899,211 8/59 sa16m6n 280-1185; 2,994,543 8/61 Hvam 28o 11.ss 3,050,644 9/61 Beyl 28011.35 3,027,173 3/62 Beyl 28011.35

FOREIGN PATENTS 845,809 2/39 France.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

A. HARRY LEVY, Examiner. 

1. A SAFETY JAW FOR SKI BINDINGS OR FASTENINGS CAPABLE OF BEING DEFLECTED IN A LATERAL DIRECTION UPON THE APPLICATION THERETO OF AN EXCESSIVELY LARGE TORQUE, COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE SWINGABLE MEMBER MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT A PIVOT PIN RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE SKI AND EXTENDING VERTICALLY UPWARDLY IN RELATION TO THE UPPER SIDE OF THE SKI, AND PREFERABLY COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE SOLE HOLD-DOWN MEMBER CAPABLE OF ENGAGING THE UPPER EDGE OF THE TOE PORTION OF A SKI BOOTH SOLE, SAID SOLE HOLD-DOWN MEMBER BEING MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN RELATION TO SAID SWINGABLE MEMBER ABOUT A SECOND PIVOT PIN RIGIDLY SECURED TO SAID SWINGABLE MEMBER AND EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE UPPER SIDE OF THE SKI, THERE BEING PROVIDED SPRING MEANS TENDING TO RETAIN THE SWINGABLE MEMBER AND THE SOLE HOLD-DOWN MEMBER IN THEIR NORMAL POSITION AND TO RETURN THEM INTO 